Flood alert

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 24: Though the water level in the Ganges at Manikchak was today recorded at 23.56 metres, far below the danger mark, the Malda district administration has taken precautionary measures to avoid floods following depression in Bay of Bengal. Officials of the flood cell section have been asked to remain alert to deal with any eventuality. With heavy rains lashing south Bengal districts, the irrigation officials have not ruled out the possibility of fresh floods in the district. "The flood control cell will remain alert till the end of September," they said. It may be recalled that in 1995, 1996 and 1999 many parts of Malda district, including English Bazaar town, were inundated during September following continuous rainfall. The district receives heavy rains in the last week of September every year, officials, said. "This year there is no chance of heavy rainfall because the district has already received 1463 mm o rainfall which is more than average rainfalls, 1450 mm, every year," said a senior engineer of the Malda irrigation division. According to irrigation officials, a flood alert has been sounded in the state owing to depression in Bay of Bengal that caused heavy rainfall in Jharkhand. "The rainwaters from Jharkhand would come down through Murshidabad, Birbhum and Burdwan districts," officials, added.